THE END OF A NIGHTMARE

October 7th, 2009 admin No comments

François Garçon definitely condemned for defamation

Filmmaker Hubert Sauper (Darwin’s Nightmare) announced on Wednesday, 18th April, during a press conference in Paris, the definitive condemnation of the French historian François Garçon for denigrating publicly Mr. Sauper.
The French court of justice announced its judgment on 11th march 2009
This verdict brings an end to the legal fight at last after three years. François Garçon who is an expert in finance and assurance of film- and TV-programs was leading an aggressive campaign against the successful documentary film “Darwin’s Nightmare” and its director, with support by the Tanzanian government.  This campaign resulted in threats on the life of Mr. Sauper, the arrestation and the forced exile of the people participating in the film.
The “affair Darwin” is unprecedented in the history of cinema. Mr. Garçon wrongly accused Mr. Sauper that his documentary was not factual and therefore it was “not a documentary film but a staged fiction”. Amongst other things he attacked Mr. Sauper for not delivering any visual proof for the arms traffic in Central Africa. For this the historian played on the current debate about the limits between documentary film and fiction for his aims. At the same moment “Darwin’s Nightmare” won dozens of prizes and was nominated for the Oscars in the category for Best Documentary.
The reason for the “Darwin affair”, that caused a stir in the French cinema and media is all but about film theory. It is about economic and state concern as mentioned in the verdict. “Those stories are old as humankind: disturbing truths are presented by certain people as inventions and lies. In many cases the messenger is executed for bringing a bad message”, said Hubert Sauper who is very relieved about the verdict. “Defamation is legally criminal. To trivialize extreme poverty and its consequences like famine, ecological and social degradation, prostitution, diseases, corruption and arm traffic etc. is politically and ethically highly criminal.

Filmmaker Hubert Sauper (Darwin’s Nightmare) announced on Wednesday, 18th April, during a press conference in Paris, the definitive condemnation of the French historian François Garçon for denigrating publicly Mr. Sauper.

The French court of justice announced its judgment on 11th March 2009

This verdict brings an end to the legal fight at last after three years. François Garçon who is an expert in finance and assurance of film- and TV-programs was leading an aggressive campaign against the successful documentary film “Darwin’s Nightmare” and its director, with support by the Tanzanian government.  This campaign resulted in threats on the life of Mr. Sauper, the arrestation and the forced exile of the people participating in the film.

The “affair Darwin” is unprecedented in the history of cinema. Mr. Garçon wrongly accused Mr. Sauper that his documentary was not factual and therefore it was “not a documentary film but a staged fiction”. Amongst other things he attacked Mr. Sauper for not delivering any visual proof for the arms traffic in Central Africa. For this the historian played on the current debate about the limits between documentary film and fiction for his aims. At the same moment “Darwin’s Nightmare” won dozens of prizes and was nominated for the Oscars in the category for Best Documentary.

The reason for the “Darwin affair”, that caused a stir in the French cinema and media is all but about film theory. It is about economic and state concern as mentioned in the verdict. “Those stories are old as humankind: disturbing truths are presented by certain people as inventions and lies. In many cases the messenger is executed for bringing a bad message”, said Hubert Sauper who is very relieved about the verdict. “Defamation is legally criminal. To trivialize extreme poverty and its consequences like famine, ecological and social degradation, prostitution, diseases, corruption and arm traffic etc. is politically and ethically highly criminal.”

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